Dispenser for liquids



Aug. 31, 1937. B. R. MURPHY DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS Filed May 27, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. B. l? MURPHY 1/ BY V ATTORNEY.

Aug. 31, 1937. B. R. MURPHY 2,091,518

DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS Filed May 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 /6 /7 19 BYATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDSApplication May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,744

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing apparatus forliquids or the like.

It has become the custom, especially in the beverage trade, for somemanufacturers to pack their beverage products in standard type glassjugs, and to furnish their customers with a dispensing base in whichthese filled jugs may, after uncorking, be placed in inverted positionfor use as reservoirs, thus relieving the operator of the work ofwashing and refilling the special types of reservoirs theretofore used.

Such dispensing bases are often furnished to the customer gratis orleased to him at a small charge with the expectation or expressagreement that only the products of the manufacturer supplying the baseshall be dispensed therefrom. This practice has lately led to manyabuses on the part of the vendors, who, after being supplied with adispenser base in this manner, often purchase and vend from thisequipment cheaper beverages of other manufacturers who do not furnishsuch equipment, but whose products may be put up in jugs similar tothose of his competitor.

The purpose of the present invention is to prevent such abuses byproviding a construction for dispensing apparatus as well as for thejugs or reservoirs themselves which will discourage the illicitinterchange and substitution above referred to, and which will at thesame time be a much improved, simpler, and more sanitary apparatus.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of adispenser apparatus which is simple of construction, light in weight,and composed of a minimum of parts.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a liquiddispenser, a simple assembly the various elements of which are soconstructed as to make for quick and easy handling and assemblingthereof by even the most inexperienced person.

A further important object is to provide a simple dispenser assembly ofthe inverted bottle reservoir type, by the use of which the operation ofremoving an empty bottle and replacing same with a newly filled bottlemay be facilitated.

Another and further important object of the invention is to provide, insuch types of dispenser assembly, a combined closure member and faucetwhich can be quickly applied to the jug or other reservoir while thelatter rests in an upright position, and which when applied forms aperfect seal between itself and the reservoir both before and after thereservoir is inverted and placed in dispensing position, as well asduring any necessary handling thereof, such as in shaking of same formixing or agitating of its contents.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide, in adispenser reservoir and its outlet, novel means for securing the outletor faucet over the mouth of the reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a dispenserassembly, a base or stand which will rigidly support standard types ofjugs or other containers and their attached dispensing faucets, ininverted position.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a base andfaucet for dispensing liquids in which only an exclusive type ofreservoir can be successfully used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bottle orcontainer which shall be of standard proportions and measurements andaccommodated by any of the ordinary types of dispenser base, but whichshall also be specially equipped for reception into an exclusive type ofdispenser base that will not successfully support other bottlescontainers equipped.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and followingspecification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dispenser assembly of thisinvention, certain concealed portions being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, certain concealed portionsbeing likewise shown in dotted lines, and omitting all but the neckportion of the reservoir.

Figure 3 is another side elevation, partly in section, showing in detailthe more important parts of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the combined bottleclosure and faucet of this invention, showing in detail the constructionof the cap portion thereof.

As shown in the drawings:

This dispenser apparatus comprises a hollow base or stand ill, in whichis mounted a jug or reservoir H in inverted position, to the neckportion I! of which has been securely attached a combined closure andfaucet l2 which I shall hereafter refer to as a faucet cap.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the shoulder l3 of the jug l l isentirely supported by the upper edge M of the base ID, which latterelement is provided near its bottom with an aperture 55 which is adaptedto receive a stud or the like it projecting downwardly from the faucetcap l2 for the twofold purpose of centering the reservoir H and theelement l2 in the base H), as

or not similarly well as to provide the utmost rigidity for the assemblyas a whole.

In the preferred form of construction, the lower edge of the faucet capl2 does not rest upon the bottom or interior wall of the base H3 at anypoint, its entire weight and that of the jug H being supported by therim or edge i l of the base HE. Thus a perfectly rigid assembly isalways provided and allowance made for any slight varilO ations that mayoccur in the overall height of the assembly ill-l2 or in the contour ofthe shoulder IS. The hollow bottom ll of the base If) located below theaperture l5 isyof course,

sufficiently long to fully enclose the stud l6 and 15 prevent the latterfrom coming to rest upon any surface when the apparatus is completelyassem bled, and it terminates in an orifice l8 through which anyaccumulations of dust, etc., can be easily removed from the chamber iffrom time 20 to time.

The base i6 is preferably provided with a clamp it, by means of whichthe same can be securely fastened to a counter or other support 25, anda felt pad 26 is positioned between the base it and 25 its support 29 toprevent marring of surfaces.

As best shown in Figure 2, the base if] is out out to form a slot H forreceiving the body portion 22 of the faucet cap l2 and the handle 23 ofthe jug N. This slot is of a length sufhcient 30 to allow the faucet cap52 to remain fully suspended below the jug or reservoir H, and the widththereof is sufiflcient to allow for easy entry of the element 22, but ispreferably made narrow enough to prevent any undue sidewise move- 35ment of the faucet cap H2 or jug handle 23, thus effectively preventingdisconnection of the element 92 from the jug H and consequent leakagewhen the apparatus is in dispensing position.

The conn ction between the faucet cap I2 and 40 the jug or reservoir"! 8is herein shown as the lug and flange type, wherein the outer surface ofthe bottle neck l l is provided with a series of slightly inclined lugs25 spaced apart and adapted to be engaged by a corresponding number ofspaced 45 flanges or lugs 25 which are cast integral with the cap member26 of the faucet cap l2, as best shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5. 'The lugs25 are preferably located at approximately the level of the upperportion of the bottle handle 23.

50 A rubber washer or the like 2] is positioned between the lip 23 ofthe jug H and the interior of the cap element 55:6 to act as a cushiontherebetween as well as to effect a watertight seal when compressed inthe operation of attaching 55 the member l2 to the jug H, which isaccomplished by a very slight turning of the member 32 by the operator.

In order to make impossible an incorrect ap plication of the faucet capl2 and to insure per- 60 feet alignment of the members 22 and 23, aswell as to render impossible the shearing off of the glass lugs 25 whenundue pressureis exerted in attaching the member E2 to the jug H, thecap member 25 is provided at its front with a cut 5 out slot 28 whichfits over and serves as a clea17- ance for the jug handle 23 during theprocedure of attachment. This slot 28 is sufficiently long to clear thehandle 23 during the entire operaticn of attaching this part, and theinside edges 29 and 33 of the slot 28' serve, respectively, to

enable the operator to start the cap l2 in proper position and toprevent turning thereof beyond a distance sufficient to accomplish atight seal.

75 Thus the bottle handle 23 must be in the slot 28' or the faucet capI2 cannot be attached to the ug.

Obviously, if the latter feature is not desired, or if theindiscriminate use of the invention on standard jugs is to be permitted,the faucet cap I2 can be constructed to accommodate the threads or lugsof any standard or special jug now on the market. However, I have foundafter considerable experimentation that the lug and. flange method isfar superior, for the reason that it is quicker and more simple ofoperation, and makes for positive alignment of the jug handle 23 and theelement 22, which is not always possible with a screw-threadarrangement. Furthermore, the latter method would not permit of the useof the slot feature for locating the starting point and preventing theapplying of excessive pressure in turning the element I2.

It will, of course, be obvious that either construction allows of theapplication of the ordinary stopper means on the jug itself for packingand transportation purposes, except when, as herein suggested, the lugs25 are located too far away from the lip of the jug to accommodate thestandard stoppers. In the latter case a special slotted cap of thegeneral contour of the element 26 would be indicated, or an extra threador other fastening means could be provided in the usual location nearthe lip of the jug and would be of such size and arrangement as to clearthe flanges 26 of the element 26.

fhe method of assembly of the various ele-' ments of this invention isas follows:

The base I0 is set upright upon a proper support. After removal of theordinary stopper from the jug H, the latter is set right side up,

upon a table or other support, with its handle directed toward theoperator. The operator, holding the faucet cap l2 upside down in'hisright hand, places the cap portion 26' over the mouth of the jug II, theslot 28 being directly over the bottle handle 23. He presses downlightly on the faucet cap l2, and rotates it anticlockwise until furtherprogress is blocked by contact of the edge 29 with the jug handle 23,whereupon the member l2 will drop down in place for locking. At thispoint the operator exerts sufificient downward pressure upon the elementl2 and rotates the same in a clockwise direction so as to cause theflanges 26 of the cap 25' to engage the lugs 25 of the jug H, continu-.ing this motion until further movement is blocked by contact of the jughandle 23 with the edge 30 of the cap 26'. The bottle or jug H and thefaucet cap I2 now form a single unit, which is then inverted and slidinto the base l0 in the manner hereinbefore described.

When the jug is empty or if the faucet element is to be cleaned orrepaired this unit Hl2 is just as simply removed from the base andplaced in upright position upon a support, whereupon the faucet can beremoved by the operator by a short anticlockwise turning of the element12.

This unitary arrangement of the jug and faucet cap also makes for quickand easy removal thereof from the base when it is desired to agitate itscontents.

The method of assembling and disassembling other modifications of theinvention herein referred to is so similar to that just described, thatno further explanation on this point is believed necessary.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having areduced neck portion provided with a laterally projecting handle, aseries of lugs on said neck portion, a combined closure and faucetmember having a laterally projecting outlet portion and further having askirt portion for extension beyond said lugs, said skirt portion havinga cut out part for receiving said handle, lugs on said skirt portion forengagement with the lugs on said neck portion for securing said memberto the reservoir, shoulders at the extremities of said out out part forlimiting relative rotary movement between said reservoir and member, ahollow base for receiving said neck portion of the reservoir to supportthe latter, said base having a slot for slidably receiving said handleand outlet portion and further having its lower portion formed with anaperture, and a projection on said member for insertion into saidaperture to center the reservoir with respect to the base.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having a.reduced neck portion provided with a laterally projecting handle, acombined closure and faucet member having a laterally projecting outletportion, means for securing said member to the reservoir with saidoutlet portion and handle in vertical alignment, a hollow base forreceiving said neck portion of the reservoir to support the latter, saidbase having a slot for slidably receiving said aligned handle and outletportion and further having its lower portion formed with an aperture,and a projection on said member for insertion into said aperture tocenter the reservoir with respect to the base.

3. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having areduced neck portion provided with a laterally projecting handle, acombined closure and faucet member having a laterally projecting outletportion, means for securing said member to the reservoir with saidoutlet portion and handle in vertical alignment, a hollow base forreceiving said neck portion of the reservoir to support the latter, saidbase having a slot for slidably receiving said aligned handle and outletportion, and co-acting means on said member and base for centering thereservoir with respect to the base.

4. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having areduced neck portion provided with a laterally projecting handle, acombined closure and faucet member having a laterally projecting outletportion, means for securing said member to the reservoir with sai outletportion and handle in vertical alignment, and a hollow base forreceiving said neck portion of the reservoir to support the latter, saidbase having a slot for slidably receiving said aligned handle and outletportion.

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having areduced neck portion provided with a laterally projecting handle, aseries of lugs on said neck portion, a combined closure and faucetmember having a skirt portion for extension beyond said lugs and furtherhaving a cut out part for receiving said handle, lugs on said skirtportion for engagement with the lugs on said neck portion for securingsaid member to the reservoir, shoulders at the extremities of said outout part for limiting relative rotary movement between the reservoir andmember, and means for supporting said reservoir in inverted position.

6. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having anoutlet neck provided with a series of lugs and further provided with aprojection extending laterally a greater distance than said lugs, acombined closure and faucet member having lugs for engagement with thelugs on said neck for securing the member to the reservoir and furtherhaving a recess for receiving said projection, shoulders at theextremities of said recess for limiting relative rotary movement betweensaid member and reservoir, and means for supporting the reservoir ininverted position.

7. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having anoutlet neck provided with a laterally extending projection, a combinedclosure and faucet member detachably secured to the neck and having alaterally projecting outlet portion normally in substantial verticalalignment with said projection, and a hollow base supporting theinverted reservoir and having a recess snugly and detachably receivingsaid vertically aligned projection and outlet portion, the wallsdefining said recess preventing rotary movement of said member andreservoir with respect to the base.

8. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having anoutlet neck, a combined closure and faucet member detachably secured tothe neck and having a laterally proj ecting outlet portion, and a hollowbase having said neck and member extending thereinto and supporting thereservoir independently of said neck, said base having a recess snuglyand detachably receiving said laterally projecting outlet portion, thewalls defining said recess preventing rotary movement of said memberwith respect to the base.

9. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having anoutlet neck, a combined closure and faucet member detachably secured tosaid neck, and a base engaging the reservoir above said neck to supportthe reservoir independently of the neck, said base and member havingcoacting means for preventing rotary movement of said member withrespect to the base.

10. A dispensing apparatus comprising an inverted reservoir having anoutlet neck, a combined closure and faucet member detachably secured tosaid neck, and a base engaging the reservoir in circumferential relationto said neck to support the reservoir independently of the neck, saidbase and member having coacting means for centering the reservoir withrespect to the base.

11. A combined closure and faucet member adapted for use with aninverted reservoir of the type having a neck portion provided with lugsand a laterally projecting handle, said member including a hollow outletbody having a skirt por tion adapted to receive the neck portion of suchreservoir therein and forming a space opening into said body, inwardlyprojecting lugs on said skirt portion adapted to engage the lugs on suchreservoir to secure the member to the reservoir, said skirt portionhaving a cut out part adapted to receive the handle of such reservoiradjustably therein, and shoulders at the extremities of said out outpart adapted to abut the handle of such reservoir to limit rotarymovement of said member with respect to the reservoir.

B. R. MURPHY.

